Junior Counsel, Film

A24 Films; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 100,000 - 135,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual bonus (cash & equity)

Healthcare

Employee benefits

Job summary

A24 Films in West Hollywood seeks a driven junior counsel to join the film business and legal affairs team, contributing to legal operations across the film slate. You will draft and negotiate development, production, and distribution contracts and coordinate with outside counsel to ensure timely, compliant outcomes.

The ideal candidate has a J.D. with California bar admission, 1–3 years of transactional experience in film or entertainment law, strong contract and IP understanding, and excellent

Qualifications

• J.D. with a strong academic record and membership in good standing with the California bar.
• 1–3 years transactional experience in film legal or business affairs and/or entertainment or big law firm; entry-level with relevant internship possible.
• Strong contracts, intellectual property law, and entertainment law understanding; willingness to expand knowledge.
• Proficiency with legal research databases and MS Office; ability to learn company software.
• Excellent organizational and time-management skills; able to manage multiple projects and deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Draft and negotiate contracts relating to development, production, and distribution (e.g., rights, writing, producing, directing, and acting agreements, and certificates of engagement).
• Manage operations with outside legal counsel across the film slate (e.g., review engagement letters and scope of work, review drafts of contracts, liaise with guild and immigration counsel).
• Assist with rights clearances and analyses and review of chain-of-title documentation.
• Maintain tracking systems and an archive of contracts, deal memos, and other legal documents/correspondence.
• Research and analyze deal terms and contract precedent to support deal negotiations.
• Develop new streamlined processes and create efficient workflows to support department functions.

Skills

Contract negotiation

Legal research

Entertainment industry knowledge

Time management

Communication skills

Organizational skills

Education

J.D. degree

Bar admission: California

Tools

Microsoft Office

Legal research databases

Job description

A24 is seeking a driven and dynamic junior counsel to join our film business and legal affairs team. This role will be a key contributor to legal operations across A24’s film slate. The ideal candidate will be a motivated self-starter with a passion for entertainment law, a high attention to detail, and the ability to manage multiple projects and communicate effectively with a diverse range of industry professionals. This role is based in our office in West Hollywood.

Key Responsibilities:

• Draft and negotiate contracts relating to development, production, and distribution (e.g., rights, writing, producing, directing, and acting agreements, and certificates of engagement).
• Manage operations with outside legal counsel across our film slate (e.g., review engagement letters and scope of work, review drafts of contracts prepared by outside counsel for crew and above-the-line talent, liaise with guild and immigration counsel, etc.).
• Assist with rights clearances and analyses and review of chain-of-title documentation.
• Maintain tracking systems and an archive of contracts, deal memos, and other legal documents/correspondence.
• Research and analyze deal terms and contract precedent to support deal negotiations.
• Develop new streamlined processes and create efficient workflows to support department functions.

Qualifications:

• J.D. with a strong academic record and membership in good standing with the California bar.
• 1-3 years of transactional experience working in a film legal or business affairs department and/or entertainment or big law firm. We will consider entry-level candidates with relevant internship or summer associate experience.
• Strong understanding of contracts, intellectual property law, and the legal framework governing the entertainment industry, as well as a commitment to continuing to expand their knowledge base.
• Proficiency in legal research databases, Microsoft Office suite and emerging technologies, with the ability to learn company-specific software.
• Exceptional organizational and time-management skills, with an aptitude for managing multiple projects and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.

We are looking for diverse perspectives. A24 is an Equal Opportunity Employer and encourages applications from all kinds of candidates.

Our target salary range for this role is between $100,000 to $135,000. We do not use formal job titles internally and similarly named positions may have different compensation levels. Actual starting salary within the range will depend on various considerations, including: work experience, skills, specializations, and training. This role is also eligible for an annual performance bonus, including both cash and equity components, competitive healthcare, as well as other employee benefits.

A24 is an acclaimed global entertainment company known for producing and distributing films, television series, documentaries, music, publishing, and consumer products. Established in New York in 2012, A24 has cultivated a library of over 150 films and 50 TV series, earning critical and commercial acclaim with more than 21 Oscars, 20 Golden Globes, and 19 Emmys. Renowned for groundbreaking hits like Backrooms, Everything Everywhere All at Once, Moonlight, and Uncut Gems as well as television successes such as Euphoria, Beef, and Ramy, A24 has developed a passionate fanbase and expanded into ventures like Half Magic and the Cherry Lane Theater.